My Dell computer does automatic updates regularly and I have noticed I have the same "failed" updates every time. I have tried to use the help box with the "fix it" link but it doesn't seem to do anything.I am wondering if having these updates fail will harm my PC. Some of them say that the update is "important" so I am concerned.

I'll assume you have Windows 7 since two of the updates say they're for Windows 7.

Have you tried clearing out temporary files before attempting to install the updates?

If that doesn't work, look for manual downloads of the updates by looking up the KB number. When you run Windows Update, it gives you the KB number of your updates (click the Start button, type the lettersupdin the Start Search and Windows Update should be listed. You can type out the word update, but just the first three letters will usually find it).

If you do a Google or Bing search for

Security Update for Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 & 2010 Service Pack

you can find an update which is KB2538242, but there may be a different update with a different KB number but the same name, and that may not be the one you need (it's dated June 7, 2011 so it's old). So it's better to go by the KB number that Windows Update gives you.